How to take good oral care at home?

photo of a woman's smile after dental treatment

Teeth, like other parts of our body, need protection from bacteria and negative environmental influences. Even in adulthood, diseases such as tooth decay and periodontitis can occur, which can lead to more serious health problems.

If hygiene measures are not performed regularly or effectively, plaque builds up on the teeth and some food remains in between the teeth. This not only gives an unsightly appearance, but also spoils your breath and eventually leads to the formation of tartar.

The condition of teeth depends up to 85-90% on how much attention a person pays to their care. Therefore, in order to keep teeth healthy and prevent many diseases, it is necessary to carry out regular and quality preventive care.

Oral care products at home

photo of a smile after oral hygiene at home

To fully care for the oral cavity at home, you will need a kit consisting of several products. Toothbrush and toothpaste will not be enough, because they are not able to fully clean the interdental space. Bacteria and food particles accumulate in these places. Therefore, it is necessary to additionally use other means.

  • Toothbrushes
  • When choosing a toothbrush for yourself, you should consider, first of all, the hardness of the bristles, the size, and the comfort of the handle. Most often used brushes of medium stiffness. Soft bristles are suitable for sensitive teeth and bleeding gums, and hard bristles are suitable for healthy teeth and dentures. Brush your teeth at least twice a day for at least 2 minutes.

    Do not use the brush for more than 3 months as bacteria builds up on the brush due to the moist environment.

  • Toothpastes
  • Toothpaste is a basic oral care product. They come in many different flavors, therapeutic and prophylactic, creamy and gel-like, and with different fluoride contents.

    Therapeutic pastes are used only on the recommendation of a doctor, do not buy such hygiene products independently for prevention, as this can cause serious harm.

on the photo toothpaste for prevention and hygiene of teeth at home

Toothpaste can be combined, for example, if you are prone to tooth decay and periodontitis (inflammation of the peri-dental tissues), your dentist may recommend brushing with an anti-caries toothpaste in the morning and an anti-inflammatory toothpaste in the evening.

Don't get carried away with overly whitening paste, as it thins enamel and can lead to cavities.

  • Dental floss
  • Dental floss (floss) is specially designed to clean the spaces between the teeth. It is divided into several types: flat, round, twisted, waxed or wax-free. Floss should be chosen individually, depending on your needs.

    the photo shows a girl flossing her mouth with dental floss
  • Tongue cleaners
  • Many people forget that the tongue is where most of the bacteria in the mouth accumulates, so cleaning it plays an important role in keeping the mouth clean. Sometimes toothbrushes are already available with rubber ribbed surfaces for cleaning the tongue. You can also buy special tools separately.

  • Mouthwashes
  • The rinse should be used at least twice a day. With regular use this product qualitatively destroys bacteria and has a beneficial effect on the condition of teeth and oral mucosa.

    mouthwash for dental and oral hygiene
  • Dental visit
  • Even if you take good care of your teeth every day, remember that 30-40% of plaque still remains on the surface of your teeth. After all, it is not possible to fully clean the interdental spaces and under-gingival spaces with a brush, and often few people use dental floss. Therefore, it is advisable to visit the dentist twice a year and undergo a professional plaque and tartar removal procedure.

These simple but effective methods will help keep your teeth healthy and your smile beautiful for years to come.